'Twist of Faith' Movie Tells Love Story of Gospel Singer and Jewish Cantor

Share

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

It isn't every day that the lead singer in gospel choir can find love in a Jewish cantor, but Lifetime network manages to bring the tale to life in the original movie "Twist of Faith."

"Twist of Faith" is a tale of two faithful individuals from two different walks of life who are forced to overcome hardships in life to find love. The fictional story fuses two different cultures and faiths with the use of love and music.

Nina is a single mother in Alabama who leads a gospel choir who she is trying to help win a statewide competition, while Jacob is an Orthodox Jewish Cantor who makes his way to her church after a tragedy compels him to leave Brooklyn,N.Y. and make his way into the Christian house of worship.

Toni Braxton, 6-time Grammy Award winner, took on the role of Nina in the Lifetime original movie and told The Christian Post that the Twist of Faith has a powerful message for people from all faiths and all walks of life.

"(Jacob is) Jewish, he's a cantor… Not only is it a beautiful story because (Nina) still respects his religion … but (they) can come together in the end when (they) thought love was lost forever. I think that's what the Bible always teaches us, love is the key," Braxton told CP about the movie. "In the end it's about people finding each other. And sometimes in the world we feel alone and there's always a person for you. God sometimes puts people in this earth just for you, just for what you're going through. When I read this movie I thought it was a movie of hope."

Braxton grew up as the daughter of a Methodist pastor and said that she joined the cast of the movie when it was brought to her attention that her life would have been very similar to Nina's had she not pursued music.

"You know Nina is me, Toni before I became a professional singer. I went to school to be a teacher and being a PK (pastor's kid) I was always active in the church. I would've been an elementary school teacher just like Nina," Braxton told CP. "Even though I've done other acting things in the past, I just felt that this was more of a stretch than anything that I'd done. I was a little nervous, cautious and guarded going into it but I had great established actors around me who helped me so much."

Along with Braxton, "Forrest Gump" actor Mykelti Williamson joins the cast as Uncle Moe while David Julian Hirsh of "Weeds" plays Jacob. The unique story of the Jewish Cantor and the lead singer of a gospel choir will make its premiere on Lifetime network Saturday, February 9 at 8:00pm ET/PT.